Nearly 70 Dead, 160 Injured in Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion

President Barack Obama

The death toll in an explosion that rocked a fertilizer factory in Texas, United States on Wednesday has been put at between 60 and 70 by local emergency managers in the city.

More than 160 people were also injured and three to four firefighters were missing or unaccounted for, officials told CNN.

Though the AFP news agency said it could not immediately verify the report, it cited local KWTX television as saying that the West Emergency Management Services Director, George Smith, confirmed the death toll.

US Envoy: 60,000 HIV Babies Born Annually in Nigeria

United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Terrence McCulley

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Terrence McCulley, yesterday raised the alarm that over 60,000 babies are born with HIV annually in the country “even though the infections are preventable”.

Besides, the UNAIDS has disclosed that Nigeria accounts for 21 per cent new infection of HIV/AIDS in infants, saying enough had not been done to reduce the rate of mother-to-child transmission.

The envoy raised the alarm at the Primary Health Centre in Masaka, Nasarawa State, during a tour there to observe the progress being made on Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV supported by President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Cameroon: Boko Haram Have Released Kidnapped French Family

A French family of seven including four children kidnapped in north Cameroon and taken to Nigeria by suspected Boko Haram militants have been released, a senior Cameroon official said on Friday. "They are all alive and well," Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, secretary general of Cameroon's presidency, said in a statement carried by state radio. He said the family had been handed to Cameroon authorities late on Thursday.

The family, which was on holiday, was abducted in February by men on motorcycles, armed with Kalashnikovs in Dabanga about 10 km (six miles) from the Nigerian border near the Waza national park, reports Reuters.

EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Navy Intensifies Research for Development

the chief of naval staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

The Nigerian Navy (NN) has called for massive investment in research and development to meet the nation's contemporary maritime challenges.  According to the Director, NN Safety and Standards, Rear Admiral Sidi Usman, conscious research and development is a veritable means by which emerging threats in the nation's maritime environment could be effectively tackled.

EXCLUSIVE: British Warship Visits, Train Nigerian Navy Personnel

L-R: FOC WEST, REAR ADMIRAL IBOK IBAS AND COMMANDER HMS ARGYLL, TIM NEILD

Chiemelie Ezeobi

A British warship well versed in sub-marine warfare, Her Majesty Ship (HMS) ARGYLL, yesterday visited Nigeria after similar visits to navies in other West African countries.

According to the commander of the ship, Tim Neild, the visit would not only afford them the opportunity to train personnel of the Nigerian Navy (NN) but in turn learn some strategies from them.

The commander who made this call at the Western Naval Command Headquarters, Apapa, Lagos, said they are partnering with countries friendly with the United Kingdom with a view to ensuring maritime security.

SEGUN ADENIYI: Does the Market Still Matter?

The Verdict By Olusegun Adeniyi. Email, olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

FLASHBACK

April 26, 2001:

The Nigerian Stock(fish) Market

Understanding the workings of the Nigerian economy is like trying to read a doctor’s prescription. It is never an easy task. That explains why when I see two or more “experts” arguing about movement of share capital, “bullish runs” and all that, I try as much as possible to keep my distance. Because they could be con-men!

Even as a lay man in business and economy, I have learnt enough from my friend and colleague, Ijeoma Nwogwugwu, to know that the death of a political leader, electricity failure for as insignificant a period as three minutes and even the bedroom antics of State officials can affect the movement of shares on the Tokyo, London or New York Stock Exchange markets with far-reaching consequences for the global economy. Interestingly, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has for years been immune to political or economic factors, making one to wonder whether what they sell there is not stockfish after all.

Omotola Jalede-Ekeinde Makes Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential Person

OMOSEXY

By Richard Corliss-TIME’s movie critic

Nollywood Star Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has been named as an Icon on Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World list for 2013. Popularly referred to as Time 100, the list is divided into various sections – Titans, Pioneers, Leaders, Icons and Artists.

The world’s most productive English-language film industry is not Hollywood but Nollywood. The teeming Nigerian cinema grinds out some 2,500 movies a year, mostly direct-to-DVD quickies mixing melodrama, music and an evangelical Christian spin. (Think Bollywood via Tyler Perry.)

EXCLUSIVE: Bamigbetan: Police Turns Down OPC's Offer of Help

LAGOS PRO, NGOZI BRAIDE

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

Following the offer by the Oodua People Congress (OPC) to assist the police in investigating the kidnap of the Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council  Development Area (LCDA), Kehinde Bamigbetan, the Lagos State Police Command yesterday turned down the offer.

According to the command, it would not need the assistance of the group since it was already outlawed  and doing otherwise would be an aberration.

EXCLUSIVE: CCECC Construction Worker Drowns in Lagoon

Lagos PRO, NGOZI BRAIDE

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

A construction worker with the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Asha Balogun, Tuesday fell into the lagoon at Fadeyi Oloro Bridge, Isolo, Lagos and drowned before help could come.

The 27-year-old casual worker was part of the construction workers working on the expansion of Ikorodu Road and  was said to have slipped into the lagoon while taking his bath after closing for the day.

EXCLUSIVE: Bamigbetan: SSS on the Trail of Kidnappers

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

Following Monday's kidnap of the Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Chairman, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, it was yesterday gathered that the State Security Service (SSS) is on the trail of the kidnappers. Sources with the SSS who did not want their names in print said the service is already at the trail of the kidnappers, adding that if all things work accordingly, the victim would be soon returned to the warm embrace of his family.

He said, "We are all careful not to release anything will jeopardise investigations at this point but just know that we are in their trail and would soon round them up. We are also working in conjunction with the police to unravel this case."